Graphite shaft connection to golf club hosel

ABSTRACT

A tubular graphite containing shaft is connected to a metallic hosel, or the like. The hosel contains a bore, a pin is received in the hosel and shaft bores, and a sleeve fits over the hosel and shaft to bridge the ends thereof and to extend beyond the end of the pin in the graphite shaft bore typically, the pin and sleeve are bond connected to the hosel and shaft, as via a cured, flexible, bonding agent.

United States Patent 11 1 Thompson 1 1 Mar. 25, 1975 1 GRAPHITE SHAFT CONNECTION TO GOLF CLUB HOSEL [76] lnvcntorz Stanley C. Thompson, 7851 Talbert St,, Apt. 1, Playa Del Rey, Calif. 90271 [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1973' [21] Appl, No.: 425,335

[521 U.S. C1 273/80.8, 273/803, 273/804, 273/805 [51] Int. Cl A631) 53/02 Field of Search 273/77 R, 80 R, 80 C,

273/80.280.8. 167-175, 80.1. 81.2, 273/67 R,73 R,73.l

3,176,987 4/1965 Johnston 273/805 X 3,389,046 6/1968 Burress 273/808 X 3,516,697 6/1970 Hahn 273/80 R X 3,529,826 9/1970 Hulyk 273/802 X 3,661,388 5/1972 Leslie 273/802 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4,326 2/1911 United Kingdom 273/808 287,303 3/1928 United Kingdom 273/805 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Golf World"; Feb. 16, 1973', page 27,

Primary Examiner- Richard J. Apley Attorney, Agent, or Firm William W. H aefliger [57] ABSTRACT A tubular graphite containing shaft is connected to a metallic hosel, or the like. The hosel contains a bore. a pin is received in the hosel and shaft bores. and a sleeve fits over the hose] and shaft to bridge the ends thereof and to extend beyond the end of the pin in the graphite shaft bore typically, the pin and sleeve are bond connected to the hose] and shaft, as via a cured. flexible, bonding agent,

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures GRAPHITE SHAFT CONNECTION TO GOLF CLUB HOSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the connection of 5 implement shafts and heads, wheretheshafts contain substantial amounts of graphite; more particularly, it concerns the connection of graphite golf club shafts to hosels.

Graphite filament golf club shafts have recently become favored by golfers due to their extremely light weight characteristics; however, the connection of such shafts to hosels presents the problem of avoiding fracture of the shaft during use of the club. In this regard, the radial compressive strength of a tubular graphite shaft is 'unsatisfactorily low, while bending strength is high. Also, the connection should be such as to present a smooth transition between the hosel and shaft. While attempts have been made toovercome these and other problems, none of which I am aware have-incorporated the unusual advantages in structure, mode of operation and results as now'afforded by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide solutions to the above problems, as well as to provide a connection between an implement head and shaft, as described, and incorporating the unusual advantages as will appear. Basically, and in accordance with the invention, the hosel and light weight, graphite containing shaft are formed to extend in end-to-end relation, with a pin received in aligned bores in these elements and connected to the latter; and a sleeve is fitted over the hosel and shaft in bridging relation to the ends thereof, the sleeve connected with these elements and extending endwise beyond the end of the pin received in the shaft bore. Asa result, the shaft is strengthened at its locus of connection to the hosel, and in such manner that despite its relatively low radial compressive strength the shaft will not fracture at such locus during DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is an elevation showing a golf club incorporat ing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An implement, asfor example a golf club, incorporating the invention includes a hosel or the like and a tubular shaft to be connected with the hosel, the shaft containing graphite fibers and resin. Other representative implements include tennis rackets, badminton rackets, etc. The representative golf club shown in the drawings includes a steel hosel 11 and a graphite filament shaft 12, which is normally tubular. Merely as illustrative, the club also includes a handle 13 and a club head 14.

Extending the description to FIG. 2, the hosel and shaftexte nd in end-toend relation at interface 15, the hosel havingan end bore 16 in alignment with shaft bore 17. The diameters of both bores are preferably equal.

An elongated pin 18 is received in the two bores, the pin preferably consisting ofa lightweight metal (of specific gravity less than steel), as for example high tensile strength aluminum or aluminum alloy. Note that about one-half the pin length extends in bore 16 and about one-half the pin length extends in bore 17, for best results; further, the pin end 18a engages the inner end wall 16a of bore 16. Note that the pin is connected with the hosel and shaft, and preferably a bonding agent indicated at 1% and 19b accomplishes such connection along the pin length. More specifically, the bonding agent substantially fills the slight annular or near annular clearances between the pin and the walls of bore 16 and .17, the agent preferably consisting of a flexible epoxide cured in situ. One such epoxide is known in the trade as high strength, flexible 3M structural adhesive mix: three parts No. 2216A mixed with two parts No. 22168, products of the 3M Company.

As a result, the bonding agent will flex with the shaft minimized, and radial deflections of the graphite shaft,

particularly proximate the end of the pin and the end of the shaft, are contained by the sleeve. A flexible bonding agent 22a and 22b, cured in situ in the clearance betweenthe pin and the shaft andhosel peripheries, serves to interconnect these elements, and to accommodate their flexing without deterioration of the bond. Also, the sleeve end 24 terminates proximate hosel step shoulder 25, and the sleeve and hosel provide an exteriorly smooth transition at 26; for example these elements may have the same external diameter. Sleeve 20 may consist of high carbon chrome plated steel.

If desired, an identifying plastic (or other material) ring 28 may be inserted between sleeve end 24 and hosel step shoulder 25, as shown.

I claim: I 1. In a sports implement having a shaft, hosel, an meansconnecting said shaft to said hosel, comprising:

said shaft being tubular and made from graphite fibers 3 termined distance, said connecting means including a uniform diameter solid pin closely received in and adhesively bonded to the hosel bore wall, said pin occupying substantially the entire length of said bore andaextending outwardly beyond said end surface a distance approximately equal to said predetermined distance, said shaft being positioned over and adhesively bonded to substantially the entire exposed pin portion and in end-to-end relation to said hosel at said end surface, the outer surface of said shaft being aligned with said second predetermined outer diameter hosel portion, said connecting means further including a sleeve telescopically received over and adhesively bonded to the shaft and second predetermined distance hosel portion, said sleeve extending endwise beyond both ends of said pin, the hosel end of said sleeve terminating adjacent said hosel step shoulder, the outer surface of said sleeve being aligned with said first predetermined outer diameter hosel portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the adhesive bond material consists of a cured, flexible epoxide.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pin consists of a metal having a specific gravity substantially less than that of steel.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pin metal consists of aluminum.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sports implement comprises a golf club.

6. The combination of claim 1 including an identifying ring inserted between the hosel end of said sleeve and said hosel step shoulder, the outer surface of said ring being aligned with said outer surface of said sleeve and said first predetermined outer diameter hosel portlOrl. 

1. In a sports implement having a shaft, hosel, and means connecting said shaft to said hosel, comprising: said shaft being tubular and made from graphite fibers and resin, said hosel extending from the head of the sports implement for a predetermined first distance and a predetermined first outer diameter, a hosel step shoulder formed at the end of said predetermined first distance, said hosel extending from said shoulder a second predetermined distance and a second predetermined outer diameter less than said first outer diameter and terminating in an end surface, a bore formed in said second predetermined distance hosel portion and extending from said end surface inwardly thereinto to a predetermined distance less than said second predetermined distance, said Connecting means including a uniform diameter solid pin closely received in and adhesively bonded to the hosel bore wall, said pin occupying substantially the entire length of said bore and extending outwardly beyond said end surface a distance approximately equal to said predetermined distance, said shaft being positioned over and adhesively bonded to substantially the entire exposed pin portion and in end-to-end relation to said hosel at said end surface, the outer surface of said shaft being aligned with said second predetermined outer diameter hosel portion, said connecting means further including a sleeve telescopically received over and adhesively bonded to the shaft and second predetermined distance hosel portion, said sleeve extending endwise beyond both ends of said pin, the hosel end of said sleeve terminating adjacent said hosel step shoulder, the outer surface of said sleeve being aligned with said first predetermined outer diameter hosel portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the adhesive bond material consists of a cured, flexible epoxide.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pin consists of a metal having a specific gravity substantially less than that of steel.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pin metal consists of aluminum.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sports implement comprises a golf club.
 6. The combination of claim 1 including an identifying ring inserted between the hosel end of said sleeve and said hosel step shoulder, the outer surface of said ring being aligned with said outer surface of said sleeve and said first predetermined outer diameter hosel portion. 